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Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) and targeted biopsy (TB) facilitate accurate detection of clinically significant prostate cancer (csPC). However, it remains unclear how targeted cores should be applied for accurate diagnosis of csPC.To assess csPC detection rates for two target-directed MRI/transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) fusion biopsy approaches, conventional TB and target saturation biopsy (TS).This was a prospective single-center study of outcomes for transperineal MRI/TRUS fusion biopsies for 170 men. Half of the men (n = 85) were randomized to conventional TB with four cores per lesion and half (n = 85) to TS with nine cores. Biopsies were performed by three experienced board-certified urologists.PC and csPC (International Society of Urological Pathology grade group ≥2) detection rates for systematic biopsy (SB), TB, and TS were analyzed using McNemar's test for intrapatient comparisons and Fisher's exact test for TS versus TB. A combination of targeted biopsy (TS or TB) and SB served as the reference.According to the reference, csPC was diagnosed for 57 men in the TS group and 36 men in the TB group. Of these, TS detected 57/57 csPC cases and TB detected 33/36 csPC cases (p = 0.058). Detection of Gleason grade group 1 disease was 10/12 cases with TS and 8/17 cases with TB (p = 0.055). In addition, TS detected 97% of 63 csPC lesions, compared to 86% with TB (p = 0.1). Limitations include the single-center design, the limited generalizability owing to the transperineal biopsy route, the lack of central review of pathology and radical prostatectomy correlation, and uneven distributions of csPC prevalence, Prostate Imaging-Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS) 5 lesions, men with two or more PI-RADS ≥3 lesions, and prostate-specific antigen density between the groups, which may have affected the results.In our study, rates of csPC detection did not significantly differ between TS and TB.In this study, we investigated two targeted approaches for taking prostate biopsy samples after observation of suspicious lesions on prostate scans. We found that the rates of detection of prostate cancer did not significantly differ between the two approaches.

ZusammenfassungEinleitung Der freie Transfer einer Gewebelappenplastik mit mikrochirurgischem Anschluss ist häufig eine tagesauslastende Tätigkeit. Eine Standardisierung dieser Operationen gestaltet sich auf Grund der eingeschränkten Planbarkeit des OP-Verlaufs mit einhergehender zeitlicher Varianz immer wieder als schwierig. Dies erschwert die Planung und damit die optimale Kapazitätsauslastung erheblich. Methoden In den Jahren 2018–2020 wurden die Schnitt-Naht-Zeiten (SNZ) bei den in der Klinik am häufigsten durchgeführten freien ALT-Lappenplastiken zur Extremitätenrekonstruktion bezogen auf das Erfahrungsniveau des Operationsteams (Kategorie 1:200 freie Lappenplastiken) und die Nebenerkrankungen der Patienten analysiert. Die Kostenstruktur am Standort wurde mit der InEK Kostenmatrix abgeglichen.Ergebnisse In der vorliegenden Arbeit konnte gezeigt werden, dass im Rahmen der mikrochirurgischen Extremitätenrekonstruktion das Erfahrungsniveau des Operationsteams einen signifikanten Einfluss auf die SNZ hat. Bei ALT-Lappenplastiken waren unter Berücksichtigung von Komplikationen Kategorie 2 Operateure durchschnittlich 45 Minuten, Kategorie 3 Operateure 167 Minuten schneller. Umgekehrt hatten Nebenerkrankungen keinen signifikanten Einfluss auf die Operationsdauer. Bezogen auf die Kostensituation zeigte sich eine zumeist defizitäre Situation in Relation zur InEK Kostenmatrix. Eine weitere Analyse zeigte hingegen, dass die SNZ für freie Lappenplastiken im Durchschnitt, die Personalkosten/Schnitt-Naht-Minute unseres Krankenhauses knapp unter dem Bundesdurchschnitt lagen. Die Kosten für einen mikrochirurgischen Weiterbildungseingriff liegen nach dieser Berechnung in der Größenordnung von 1000 €/Fall. Diskussion & Schlussfolgerung Freie Lappenplastiken zur Extremitätenrekonstruktion sind nicht komplett adäquat im deutschen DRG-System abgebildet. Bezogen auf die Weiterbildung konnte gezeigt werden, dass diese bedingt durch längere SNZ nicht kostenneutral ist. Durch Hinterlegung der identifizierten operateurbedingten Zeiten im Krankenhausinformationssystem sollte eine bessere Vorgabezeitgüte mit aufgewerteter Termintreue und effizienterer Auslastung der wertvollen Ressource OP-Kapazität resultieren.

Background To investigate the influence of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) patterns detected with MRI on clinical outcomes after prostatic artery embolization (PAE). Materials & methods This retrospective study included 71 consecutive patients with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), who underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the prostate followed by PAE at a single centre. MRI scans were evaluated and BPH patterns were determined according to Wasserman type and a modified BPH classification. Additionally, scans were evaluated regarding the presence of adenomatous-dominant benign prostatic hyperplasia (AdBPH). LUTS were assessed using the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and urinary flow rate (Qmax). Follow-up examination included MRI and clinical outcome. Results For clinical outcome at follow-up, IPSS showed median reduction of 54% (IQR 41—75%) and Qmax improved by 4.1 ml/s. We noted significant reduction in volume, intraprostatic protrusion, and prostatic urethral angle in our collective (p p p Conclusions Men benefit from PAE regardless the macroscopic BPH MRI pattern. Preinterventional prostate volume and presence of AdBPH on MRI should be considered for outcome prognosis after PAE.

Background Currently, interpretation of prostate MRI is performed qualitatively. Quantitative assessment of the mean apparent diffusion coefficient (mADC) is promising to improve diagnostic accuracy while radiomic machine learning (RML) allows to probe complex parameter spaces to identify the most promising multi-parametric models. We have previously developed quantitative RML and ADC classifiers for prediction of clinically significant prostate cancer (sPC) from prostate MRI, however these have not been combined with radiologist PI-RADS assessment. Purpose To propose and evaluate diagnostic algorithms combining quantitative ADC or RML and qualitative PI-RADS assessment for prediction of sPC. Methods and population The previously published quantitative models (RML and mADC) were utilized to construct four algorithms: 1) Down(ADC) and 2) Down(RML): clinically detected PI-RADS positive prostate lesions (defined as either PI-RADS≥3 or ≥4) were downgraded to MRI negative upon negative quantitative assessment; and 3) Up(ADC) and 4) Up(RML): MRI-negative lesions were upgraded to MRI-positive upon positive assessment of quantitative parameters. Analyses were performed at the individual lesion level and the patient level in 133 consecutive patients with suspicion for clinically significant prostate cancer (sPC, International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) grade group≥2), the test set subcohort of a previously published patient population. McNemar test was used to compare differences in sensitivity, specificity and accuracy. Differences between lesions of different prostate zones were assessed using ANOVA. Reduction in false positive assessments was assessed as ratios. Results Compared to clinical assessment at the PI-RADS≥4 cut-off alone, algorithms Down(ADC/RML) improved specificity from 43% to 65% (p = 0.001)/62% (p = 0.003), while sensitivity did not change significantly at 89% compared to 87% (p = 1.0)/89% (unchanged) on the patient level. Reduction of false positive lesions was 50% [26/52] in the PZ and 53% [15/28] in the TZ. Algorithms Up(ADC/RML) led, on a patient basis, to an unfavorable loss of specificity from 43% to 30% (p = 0.039)/32% (p = 0.106), with insignificant increase of sensitivity from 89% to 96%/96% (both p = 1.0). Compared to clinical assessment at the PI-RADS≥3 cut-off alone, similar results were observed for Down(ADC) with significantly increased specificity from 2% to 23% (p 0.001) and unchanged sensitivity on the lesion level; patient level specificity increased only non-significantly. Conclusion Downgrading PI-RADS≥3 and ≥ 4 lesions based on quantitative mADC measurements or RML classifiers can increase diagnostic accuracy by enhancing specificity and preserving sensitivity for detection of sPC and reduce false positives.

PROBASE is a population-based, randomized trial of 46 495 German men recruited at age 45 to compare effects of risk-adapted prostate cancer (PCa) screening starting either immediately at age 45, or at a deferred age of 50 years. Based on prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, men are classified into risk groups with different screening intervals: low-risk (3 ng/ml, recommendation for immediate biopsy). Over the first 6 years of study participation, attendance rates to scheduled screening visits varied from 70.5% to 79.4%, depending on the study arm and risk group allocation, in addition 11.2% to 25.4% of men reported self-initiated PSA tests outside the PROBASE protocol. 38.5% of participants had a history of digital rectal examination or PSA testing prior to recruitment to PROBASE, frequently associated with family history of PCa. These men showed higher rates (33% to 57%, depending on subgroups) of self-initiated PSA testing in-between PROBASE screening rounds. In the high-risk groups (both arms), the biopsy acceptance rate was 64% overall, but was higher among men with screening PSA ≥4 ng/ml (>71%) and with PIRADS ≥3 findings upon multiparameter magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) (>72%), compared with men with PSA ≥3 to 4 ng/ml (57%) or PIRADS score ≤ 2 (59%). Overall, PROBASE shows good acceptance of a risk-adapted PCa screening strategy in Germany. Implementation of such a strategy should be accompanied by a well-structured communication, to explain not only the benefits but also the harms of PSA screening. in press

Purpose Although active surveillance (AS) is recommended for low- to favorable intermediate-risk prostate cancer (PCa), risk of upgrading at radical prostatectomy (RP) is not negligible. Available studies based on systematic transrectal ultrasound biopsy might not be applicable to contemporary cohorts diagnosed with MRI-targeted biopsy (TB). The aim of the present study is to explore rates and risk factors for adverse outcomes (AO) at RP in patients with ISUP ≤ 2 PCa detected at TB with concomitant systematic biopsy (SB). Methods Multicenter, retrospective analysis of 475 consecutive patients with ISUP ≤ 2 PCa at MRI-TB + SB is treated with RP. AO were defined as ISUP upgrading, adverse pathology (upgrading to ISUP ≥ 3 and/or ≥ pT3 at RP, and/or pN1) (AP) or biochemical recurrence (BCR) in men with follow-up (n = 327). Results The rate of ISUP upgrading, upgrading ≥ 3, and AP were 39%, 21%, and 43%. Compared to ISUP2, men with ISUP1 PCa had a higher rate of overall upgrading (27 vs. 67%, p p p = 0.02) or SB (p = 0.01) alone. PSA, PSA density, PI-RADS, ISUP at TB, overall biopsy ISUP and EAU classification were predictors of upgrading to ISUP ≥ 3 and AP. The 1 year BCR-free survival was 94% with no differences in BCR rates between subgroups. Conclusion Upgrading in ISUP ≤ 2 PCa remains prevalent even in men diagnosed in the MRI era. The use of MRI-TB with concomitant SB allows for the accurate identification of ISUP2 PCa and predicts the risk of AO at RP.

Background Creating the neovaginal canal in transwomen is one of the most delicate steps of Genital Gender Affirming Surgery (GGAS). Injury to the rectum is a rare but serious complication that can lead to further surgery and even creation of a colostomy. Aim Implementation of a novel hydrospacing technique (HST) based on transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided hydrodistension. Methods Between June 2018 and June 2020 54 transwomen received GGAS with HST. Immediately before GGAS transperineal hydrodistension was performed using a TSK-Supra-Needle (20 Gauge, 120 mm length), that was placed under direct TRUS-guided visual control between Denonvilliers’ fascia and the anterior rectal wall. 40 – 60 ml normal saline were administered perineally to separate Denonvilliers’ fascia from the anterior rectal wall to create a dissection of at least 20 mm. For better intraoperative visualization the hydrodissected space was also dyed using 2ml of methylenblue while retracting the needle. A retrospectively analysed, clinically and demographically comparable series of 84 transwomen who underwent GGAS between June 2016 and June 2018 served as control group. All 138 surgeries were performed by the same experienced surgeon. Outcomes The effect of the novel hydrospacing technique on neovaginal dimensions and operating time. RESULTS Patients in both groups did not differ in baseline patient characteristics such as age and body mass index (HST 35 vs 38 years in control group, P = .44 and body mass index 26 vs 25 kg/m2, P = .73). Vaginal depth and width were significantly larger in the HST subgroup as compared to controls (14.4 cm vs 13.5 cm, P = .01 and 4.2 cm vs 3.8 cm, P < .001). No statistically significant difference occurred in intraoperative rectal injury (n = 0 in HST group, n = 2 in control group, P = .26). Median total OR-time was comparable for GGAS including HST before vaginoplasty to standard technique (211 minutes for HST vs 218 minutes; P = 0.19). Clinical implications The proposed additional surgical step during GGAS is minimally invasive and safe, simplifies GGAS and potentially helps to avoid complications such as rectal injury. Strength & Limitations Single-surgeon series, limited follow-up time and no prospective randomization. CONCLUSION HST is a safe and feasible procedure, which facilitates a safe preparation of the neovaginal canal during male to female GGAS.

Background: Several studies indicate, particularly in the case of [18F]PSMA-1007, a relatively high rate of detection of ganglia in PSMA PET imaging. Ganglia are an integral part of the sympathetic portion of the autonomous nervous system. To date, no studies have directly compared [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 and [18F]PSMA-1007 ganglionic uptake intra-individually and analyzed the underlying molecular and physical mechanisms of different detection rates. With this monocentric retrospective study, we sought to evaluate the intra-individual physiological ganglion uptake of these different PSMA ligands in evidence-based imaging for prostate cancer. Methods: Our cohort consists of 19 male patients (median age 72 ± 9 with a range of 56–85) with biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer who underwent both [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 and [18F]PSMA-1007 PET/CT in our clinic on the same scanner per standard care between March 2015 and March 2022. Tracer uptake was quantified according to maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) for both [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 and [18F]PSMA-1007 PET/CT scans. Ganglia-to-background ratios (GBRs) were determined to quantify the image contrast through dividing the SUVmax of the ganglia by the background value (SUVmax of blood pool in the descending aorta, fatty tissue, and skeletal muscle in gluteal region). We used descriptive analyses for demographics and tumor characteristics and performed two-way repeated-measures ANOVA (analysis of variance) for SUV metrics including GBR measurements. Results: In total, we examined 101 ganglia with [18F]PSMA-1007 scanning, localized mostly in pairs as stellate, coeliac, and sacral, of which 76 were also detected with [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT scanning. There was no statistically significant difference in PSMA uptake in terms of SUVmax between [18F]PSMA-1007 and [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 (p value: 0.052). In contrast, the comparison of GBRs revealed a higher detectability rate of ganglia with [18F]PSMA-1007 imaging (p < 0.001). Furthermore, a separate comparison of ganglia with respect to their anatomical location also demonstrated statistically significant differences both within and between [18F]PSMA-1007 and [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT scans. Conclusion: Given the impression of more accentuated [18F]PSMA-1007 uptake in ganglia compared with 68Ga-labelled counterparts, our study demonstrated that the better detectability of ganglia is not due to more intense [18F]PSMA-1007 uptake by these small structures but to much more favorable physical properties of the radionuclide 18F. The most relevant limitations of our study are its retrospective design and the small patient cohort.

Objectives To validate, in an external cohort, three novel risk models, including the recently updated European Randomized Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer (ERSPC) risk calculator, that combine multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) and clinical variables to predict clinically significant prostate cancer (PCa). Patients and methods We retrospectively analysed 307 men who underwent mpMRI prior to transperineal ultrasound fusion biopsy between October 2015 and July 2018 at two German centres. mpMRI was rated by Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS) v2.0 and clinically significant PCa was defined as International Society of Urological Pathology Gleason grade group ≥2. The prediction performance of the three models (MRI-ERSPC-3/4, and two risk models published by Radtke et al. and Distler et al., ModRad and ModDis) were compared using receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses, with area under the ROC curve (AUC), calibration curve analyses and decision curves used to assess net benefit. Results The AUCs of the three novel models (MRI-ERSPC-3/4, ModRad and ModDis) were 0.82, 0.85 and 0.83, respectively. Calibration curve analyses showed the best intercept for MRI-ERSPC-3 and -4 of 0.35 and 0.76. Net benefit analyses indicated clear benefit of the MRI-ERSPC-3/4 risk models compared with the other two validated models. The MRI-ERSPC-3/4 risk models demonstrated a discrimination benefit for a risk threshold of up to 15% for clinically significant PCa as compared to the other risk models. Conclusion In our external validation of three novel prostate cancer risk models, which incorporate mpMRI findings, a head-to-head comparison indicated that the MRI-ERSPC-3/4 risk model in particular could help to reduce unnecessary biopsies.

Background Men suspected of having clinically significant prostate cancer (sPC) increasingly undergo prostate MRI. The potential of deep learning to provide diagnostic support for human interpretation requires further evaluation. Purpose To compare the performance of clinical assessment to a deep learning system optimized for segmentation trained with T2-weighted and diffusion MRI in the task of detection and segmentation of lesions suspicious for sPC. Materials and Methods In this retrospective study, T2-weighted and diffusion prostate MRI sequences from consecutive men examined with a single 3.0-T MRI system between 2015 and 2016 were manually segmented. Ground truth was provided by combined targeted and extended systematic MRI-transrectal US fusion biopsy, with sPC defined as International Society of Urological Pathology Gleason grade group greater than or equal to 2. By using split-sample validation, U-Net was internally validated on the training set (80% of the data) through cross validation and subsequently externally validated on the test set (20% of the data). U-Net-derived sPC probability maps were calibrated by matching sextant-based cross-validation performance to clinical performance of Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS). Performance of PI-RADS and U-Net were compared by using sensitivities, specificities, predictive values, and Dice coefficient. Results A total of 312 men (median age, 64 years; interquartile range [IQR], 58-71 years) were evaluated. The training set consisted of 250 men (median age, 64 years; IQR, 58-71 years) and the test set of 62 men (median age, 64 years; IQR, 60-69 years). In the test set, PI-RADS cutoffs greater than or equal to 3 versus cutoffs greater than or equal to 4 on a per-patient basis had sensitivity of 96% (25 of 26) versus 88% (23 of 26) at specificity of 22% (eight of 36) versus 50% (18 of 36). U-Net at probability thresholds of greater than or equal to 0.22 versus greater than or equal to 0.33 had sensitivity of 96% (25 of 26) versus 92% (24 of 26) (both P > .99) with specificity of 31% (11 of 36) versus 47% (17 of 36) (both P > .99), not statistically different from PI-RADS. Dice coefficients were 0.89 for prostate and 0.35 for MRI lesion segmentation. In the test set, coincidence of PI-RADS greater than or equal to 4 with U-Net lesions improved the positive predictive value from 48% (28 of 58) to 67% (24 of 36) for U-Net probability thresholds greater than or equal to 0.33 (P = .01), while the negative predictive value remained unchanged (83% [25 of 30] vs 83% [43 of 52]; P > .99). Conclusion U-Net trained with T2-weighted and diffusion MRI achieves similar performance to clinical Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System assessment. © RSNA, 2019 Online supplemental material is available for this article. See also the editorial by Padhani and Turkbey in this issue.

To analyze urinary continence outcome following robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) for aggressive prostate cancer in men aged ≥ 70 and

The aim of this study is to analyze the correct staging of primary endometrial cancer (EC) using clinical examination and 3 Tesla (T) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results compared to histopathology. In this prospective, non-randomized, single-center study, 26 women with biopsy-proven EC were evaluated. All women underwent clinical examination including transvaginal ultrasound (CE/US) and 3T MRI (T2-weighted, diffusion-weighted and dynamic contrast-enhanced sequences) prior to surgery. Spearman’s correlation coefficient was employed to analyze the correlation between both staging methods and histopathology and generalized estimation equation analysis to compare their staging results. Main outcome measures are determinations of local tumor extent for EC on CE/US and 3T MRI compared to histopathology (gold standard). Sixteen women had an early-stage pT1a tumor, 10 a locally advanced ≥ pT1b tumor. The early stage was correctly diagnosed at CE/US in 100%, by MRI in 81%. Spearman’s correlation coefficient was r = 1.0 (p

Objective: Patients with bladder cancer (BC) are at risk of developing upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC). Therefore, CT urography is recommended for follow-up. To avoid intravenous contrast agents, retrograde pyelography (RPG) is an alternative. However, it is still unclear whether RPG increases the incidence of UTUC. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of RPG in the presence of BC on the risk of developing UTUC. Patients and Methods: Retrospectively analysing a total of 3,680 RPGs between 2009 and 2016, all patients with simultaneous BC (group 1) and those without synchronous BC (group 2) during RPG were compared. All patients were risk stratified according to the EORTC bladder calculator. In patients without BC during RPG, risk stratification was based on the worst prior tumour characteristics. Results: A total of 145 patients with a history of BC were analysed. Of these, 112 patients underwent RPG with simultaneous BC. UTUC developed in 6 of 112 patients (5.4%) and 58.9% (66/112) had high-risk BC according to the EORTC bladder calculator. In the control group, one out of 33 (3%) patients with metachronous high-risk BC developed UTUC. Conclusions: Using RPG in the presence of BC did not increase the risk of UTUC. Due to the predominant number of high-risk/high-grade tumours, individual tumour biology appears to be the primary driver for the development of UTUC.

BACKGROUND The potential of deep learning to support radiologist prostate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) interpretation has been demonstrated. PURPOSE The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of increased and diversified training data (TD) on deep learning performance for detection and segmentation of clinically significant prostate cancer-suspicious lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS In this retrospective study, biparametric (T2-weighted and diffusion-weighted) prostate MRI acquired with multiple 1.5-T and 3.0-T MRI scanners in consecutive men was used for training and testing of prostate segmentation and lesion detection networks. Ground truth was the combination of targeted and extended systematic MRI-transrectal ultrasound fusion biopsies, with significant prostate cancer defined as International Society of Urological Pathology grade group greater than or equal to 2. U-Nets were internally validated on full, reduced, and PROSTATEx-enhanced training sets and subsequently externally validated on the institutional test set and the PROSTATEx test set. U-Net segmentation was calibrated to clinically desired levels in cross-validation, and test performance was subsequently compared using sensitivities, specificities, predictive values, and Dice coefficient. RESULTS One thousand four hundred eighty-eight institutional examinations (median age, 64 years; interquartile range, 58-70 years) were temporally split into training (2014-2017, 806 examinations, supplemented by 204 PROSTATEx examinations) and test (2018-2020, 682 examinations) sets. In the test set, Prostate Imaging-Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS) cutoffs greater than or equal to 3 and greater than or equal to 4 on a per-patient basis had sensitivity of 97% (241/249) and 90% (223/249) at specificity of 19% (82/433) and 56% (242/433), respectively. The full U-Net had corresponding sensitivity of 97% (241/249) and 88% (219/249) with specificity of 20% (86/433) and 59% (254/433), not statistically different from PI-RADS (P > 0.3 for all comparisons). U-Net trained using a reduced set of 171 consecutive examinations achieved inferior performance (P < 0.001). PROSTATEx training enhancement did not improve performance. Dice coefficients were 0.90 for prostate and 0.42/0.53 for MRI lesion segmentation at PI-RADS category 3/4 equivalents. CONCLUSIONS In a large institutional test set, U-Net confirms similar performance to clinical PI-RADS assessment and benefits from more TD, with neither institutional nor PROSTATEx performance improved by adding multiscanner or bi-institutional TD.

Purpose To evaluate fibroblast-activation-protein (FAP) expression in different clinical stages of prostate cancer (PC) with regards to utility of [68 Ga]Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT imaging in patients with castration-resistant PC (CRPC). Methods Tissue microarrays (TMAs) were constructed from prostatic tissue from 94 patients at different stages of PC (primary PC, patients undergoing neoadjuvant androgen deprivation therapy, CRPC, and neuroendocrine PC (NEPC)) and were stained with anti-FAP monoclonal antibody. A positive pixel count algorithm (H-Index) was used to compare FAP expression between the groups. Additionally, three men with advanced CRPC or NEPC underwent [68 Ga]Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT, and PET positivity was analyzed. Results The mean H-index for benign tissue, primary PC, neoadjuvant androgen deprivation therapy before radical prostatectomy, CRPC, and NEPC was 0.018, 0.031, 0.042, 0.076, and 0.051, respectively, indicating a significant rise in FAP expression with advancement of disease. Corroborating these findings [68 Ga]Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT was highly positive in men with advanced CRPC. Conclusion Increased FAP tissue expression supports the use of FAP inhibitor (FAPI)-molecular theranostics in CRPC.

Objectives The aim of this study was to assess quantitative ultra-high b-value (UHB) diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-derived parameters in comparison to standard clinical apparent diffusion coefficient (SD-ADC-2b-1000, SD-ADC-2b-1500) for the prediction of clinically significant prostate cancer, defined as Gleason Grade Group greater than or equal to 2. Materials and methods Seventy-three patients who underwent 3-T prostate MRI with diffusion-weighted imaging acquired at b = 50/500/1000/1500s/mm2 and b = 100/500/1000/1500/2250/3000/4000 s/mm2 were included. Magnetic resonance lesions were segmented manually on individual sequences, then matched to targeted transrectal ultrasonography/MRI fusion biopsies. Monoexponential 2-point and multipoint fits of standard diffusion and of UHB diffusion were calculated with incremental b-values. Furthermore, a kurtosis fit with parameters Dapp and Kapp with incremental b-values was obtained. Each parameter was examined for prediction of clinically significant prostate cancer using bootstrapped receiver operating characteristics and decision curve analysis. Parameter models were compared using Vuong test. Results Fifty of 73 men (age, 66 years [interquartile range, 61-72]; prostate-specific antigen, 6.6 ng/mL [interquartile range, 5-9.7]) had 64 MRI-detected lesions. The performance of SD-ADC-2b-1000 (area under the curve, 0.82) and SD-ADC-2b-1500 (area under the curve, 0.82) was not statistically different (P = 0.99), with SD-ADC-2b-1500 selected as reference. Compared with the reference model, none of the 19 tested logistic regression parameter models including multipoint and 2-point UHB-ADC, Dapp, and Kapp with incremental b-values of up to 4000 s/mm2 outperformed SD-ADC-2b-1500 (all P's > 0.05). Decision curve analysis confirmed these results indicating no higher net benefit for UHB parameters in comparison to SD-ADC-2b-1500 in the clinically important range from 3% to 20% of cancer threshold probability. Net reduction analysis showed no reduction of MR lesions requiring biopsy. Conclusions Despite evaluation of a large b-value range and inclusion of 2-point, multipoint, and kurtosis models, none of the parameters provided better predictive performance than standard 2-point ADC measurements using b-values 50/1000 or 50/1500. Our results suggest that most of the diagnostic benefits available in diffusion MRI are already represented in an ADC composed of one low and one 1000 to 1500 s/mm2 b-value.

In this prospective single-center feasibility study, we demonstrate that the use of three-dimensional (3D)-printed prostate models support nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy (RP) and intraoperative frozen sectioning (IFS) in ten men suffering from intermediate- and high-risk prostate cancer (PC), of whom seven harbored pT3 disease. Patient-specific 3D resin models were printed based on preoperative multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) to provide an exact 3D impression of significant tumor lesions. RP and IFS were planned in a patient-tailored fashion. The 36-region Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS) v2.0 scheme was used to compare the MRI/3D print with whole-mount histopathology. In all cases, localization of the index lesion was correctly displayed by MRI and the 3D model. Localization of significant PC lesions correlated significantly (Pearson`s correlation coefficient of 0.88; p

Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) targeted positron emission tomography (PET) is an emerging prostate cancer imaging method, which has been reported to have a higher sensitivity and specificity than the currently approved PET imaging agents. Multiple PSMA ligands are being investigated around the world and applications range from primary tumor characterization, to local staging, biochemical recurrence, metastasis, and image-guided interventions. The most investigated PET tracers are labelled with 68-Gallium or 18-Fluoride and are discussed in this review. Additionally, 99mTc labeled PSMA agents for single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging are elucidated as an alternative method of PSMA image acquisition.

Quantitative measurement of the mean apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) was more accurate than prospective clinical assessment in classifying a lesion as clinically significant prostate cancer ra...

Dieser Artikel gibt ein Update zum aktuellen Stand der PSMA-PET-Diagnostik beim Prostatakarzinom. Dabei soll auf die Schwerpunkte des Primärstagings und der Diagnostik beim biochemischen Rezidiv eingegangen sowie Aspekte aus uroonkologischer und strahlentherapeutischer Sicht miteinbezogen werden. Durch die andauernde Weiterentwicklung und Optimierung der PSMA-gerichteten Tracer bekommt die molekulare Bildgebung mittels PET / CT einen immer höheren Stellenwert in dem Patientenmanagement, was sich auch in der expliziten Erwähnung aktuellster nationaler sowie internationaler Leitlinien widerspiegelt.

Background Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) is gaining widespread acceptance in prostate cancer (PC) diagnosis and improves significant PC (sPC; Gleason score≥3+4) detection. Decision making based on European Randomised Study of Screening for PC (ERSPC) risk-calculator (RC) parameters may overcome prostate-specific antigen (PSA) limitations. Objective We added pre-biopsy mpMRI to ERSPC-RC parameters and developed risk models (RMs) to predict individual sPC risk for biopsy-naive men and men after previous biopsy. Design, setting, and participants We retrospectively analyzed clinical parameters of 1159 men who underwent mpMRI prior to MRI/transrectal ultrasound fusion biopsy between 2012 and 2015. Outcome measurements and statistical analysis Multivariate regression analyses were used to determine significant sPC predictors for RM development. The prediction performance was compared with ERSPC-RCs, RCs refitted on our cohort, Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS) v1.0, and ERSPC-RC plus PI-RADSv1.0 using receiver-operating characteristics (ROCs). Discrimination and calibration of the RM, as well as net decision and reduction curve analyses were evaluated based on resampling methods. Results and limitations PSA, prostate volume, digital-rectal examination, and PI-RADS were significant sPC predictors and included in the RMs together with age. The ROC area under the curve of the RM for biopsy-naive men was comparable with ERSPC-RC3 plus PI-RADSv1.0 (0.83 vs 0.84) but larger compared with ERSPC-RC3 (0.81), refitted RC3 (0.80), and PI-RADS (0.76). For postbiopsy men, the novel RM's discrimination (0.81) was higher, compared with PI-RADS (0.78), ERSPC-RC4 (0.66), refitted RC4 (0.76), and ERSPC-RC4 plus PI-RADSv1.0 (0.78). Both RM benefits exceeded those of ERSPC-RCs and PI-RADS in the decision regarding which patient to receive biopsy and enabled the highest reduction rate of unnecessary biopsies. Limitations include a monocentric design and a lack of PI-RADSv2.0. Conclusions The novel RMs, incorporating clinical parameters and PI-RADS, performed significantly better compared with RMs without PI-RADS and provided measurable benefit in making the decision to biopsy men at a suspicion of PC. For biopsy-naive patients, both our RM and ERSPC-RC3 plus PI-RADSv1.0 exceeded the prediction performance compared with clinical parameters alone. Patient summary Combined risk models including clinical and imaging parameters predict clinically relevant prostate cancer significantly better than clinical risk calculators and multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging alone. The risk models demonstrate a benefit in making a decision about which patient needs a biopsy and concurrently help avoid unnecessary biopsies.

The aim of the present study was to explore the clinical feasibility and reproducibility of a comprehensive whole-body 18F–PSMA-1007-PET/MRI protocol for imaging prostate cancer (PC) patients. Eight patients with high-risk biopsy-proven PC underwent a whole-body PET/MRI (3 h p.i.) including a multi-parametric prostate MRI after 18F–PSMA-1007-PET/CT (1 h p.i.) which served as reference. Seven patients presented with non-treated PC, whereas one patient presented with biochemical recurrence. SUVmean-quantification was performed using a 3D–isocontour volume-of-interest. Imaging data was consulted for TNM-staging and compared with histopathology. PC was confirmed in 4/7 patients additionally by histopathology after surgery. PET-artifacts, co-registration of pelvic PET/MRI and MRI-data were assessed (PI-RADS 2.0). The examinations were well accepted by patients and comprised 1 h. SUVmean-values between PET/CT (1 h p.i.) and PET/MRI (3 h p.i.) were significantly correlated (p

Purpose: Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging has an emerging role in prostate cancer diagnostics. In addition, clinical information is a reliable predictor of significant prostate cancer. We analyzed whether the negative predictive value of multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging to rule out significant prostate cancer could be improved using clinical factors, especially prostate specific antigen density.Materials and Methods: A total of 1,040 consecutive men with suspicion of prostate cancer underwent multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging first, followed by transperineal systematic and magnetic resonance imaging-transrectal ultrasound fusion guided biopsy. Logistic regression analyses were performed to test different clinical factors as predictors of significant prostate cancer and build nomograms. To simplify these nomograms for clinical use patients were stratified into 3 prostate specific antigen density groups, including group 1—less than 0.07, group 2—0.07 to 0.15 and group 3—greater ...

The study aims to describe the technique and analyze the outcome of an arcuated bladder incision with building of a triangular flap, first described by Uebelhoer (UBBF), as a modification of the classical rectangular Boari bladder flap (BBF), that is often viable, but can present difficulties, such as reduced flap vascularization and mobility in pretreated patients. Twelve consecutive patients with distal or mid ureteral leakage or stenosis, that underwent UBBF, were retrospectively analyzed. We assessed postoperative morbidity using Clavien-Dindo classification. Short- and long-term functional outcomes were assessed using glomerular filtration rate (GFR), ultrasound, and renal scintigraphy. Patients underwent UBBF during initial oncological surgery in five cases and due to ureteral defects following oncological surgery or radiotherapy in seven cases. Median patient age was 57 (interquartile range (IQR) 46–72), defect length was 7.5 cm (IQR 5–8 cm), and median follow-up period was 41 (IQR 36–48) months. In short-term follow-up, 11/13 postoperative morbidities were Clavien-Dindo level I-II complications, mostly infections. Two level IIIa complications occurred. One anastomotic leakage was treated sufficiently with temporarily ureteral stenting and one voiding disorder needed intervention. In the long-term follow-up, 84% of patients had improved or constant GFR. In the one-year renal scintigraphy, no urodynamically relevant voiding disorder occurred. The UBBF is a reliable procedure to reconstruct ureteral trauma even in complex oncological, pretreated patients suffering from distal or mid ureteral defects. It can be performed easily by a modified arcuate incision and provides good long-term functional outcomes.

Objective: To investigate the diagnostic accuracy of transperineal MRI/transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) fusion prostate biopsy vs. transrectal prostate biopsy in transurethral resection (TUR) specimen of men undergoing TUR of the prostate (TURP) for symptomatic bladder outlet obstruction. Material and Methods: From a database of 3,509 men receiving prostate biopsy, all those undergoing TURP and negative prostate biopsy (n = 95; 45 transrectal, 50 transperineal fusion) were analysed. TURP specimens were compared with regard to incidental prostate cancer. Results: Pre- and peri-interventional parameters in transrectal vs. fusion biopsy groups for age (65.2 ± 7.8 vs. 65.5 ± 7.3 years; p = 0.84), prostate specific antigen (10.7 ± 8.5 vs. 10.9 ± 8.7 ng/mL; p = 0.93), preoperative prostate volume (72.5 ± 26.1 vs. 71.8 ± 28.1 mL; p = 0.91) and resected weight (43.7 ± 21.9 vs. 41.4 ± 20.7 g; p = 0.61) showed no significant differences. Analysing the TURP specimen, 5 incidental T1a prostate cancers were found (3 Gleason 3 + 3 = 6; 2 Gleason 3 + 4 = 7, all in the transrectal biopsy group). Although, more biopsy cores were obtained in the MRI/TRUS fusion biopsy group (26 cores [interquartile range, IQR 24-28] vs. 14 cores [IQR 12-24], p < 0.01), there was no statistical impact of the obtained number of cores (p = 0.9) on diagnostic accuracy. Statistical analyses revealed significantly better diagnostic accuracy favoring image-guided fusion biopsy (p = 0.02). Conclusions: Our findings showed that a combination of MRI-targeted and systematic transperineal prostate biopsy improves patient safety. This is associated with a combination of transperineal biopsy technique and pre-interventional MRI.

Our objective was to assess the feasibility and accuracy of Cerenkov luminescence imaging (CLI) for assessment of surgical margins intraoperatively during radical prostatectomy. Methods: A single-center feasibility study included 10 patients with high-risk primary prostate cancer (PC). (68)Ga-prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) PET/CT scans were performed followed by radical prostatectomy and intraoperative CLI of the excised prostate. In addition to imaging the intact prostate, in the first 2 patients the prostate gland was incised and imaged with CLI to visualize the primary tumor. We compared the tumor margin status on CLI to postoperative histopathology. Measured CLI intensities were determined as tumor-to-background ratio. Results: Tumor cells were successfully detected on the incised prostate CLI images as confirmed by histopathology. Three of 10 men had histopathologically positive surgical margins (PSMs), and 2 of 3 PSMs were accurately detected on CLI. Overall, 25 (72%) of 35 regions of interest proved to visualize a tumor signal according to standard histopathology. The median tumor radiance in these areas was 11,301 photons/s/cm(2)/sr (range, 3,328–25,428 photons/s/cm(2)/sr), and median tumor-to-background ratio was 4.2 (range, 2.1–11.6). False-positive signals were seen mainly at the prostate base, with PC cells overlaid by benign tissue. PSMA immunohistochemistry revealed strong PSMA staining of benign gland tissue, which impacts measured activities. Conclusion: This feasibility showed that (68)Ga-PSMA CLI is a new intraoperative imaging technique capable of imaging the entire specimen’s surface to detect PC tissue at the resection margin. Further optimization of the CLI protocol, or the use of lower-energy imaging tracers such as (18)F-PSMA, is required to reduce false-positives. A larger study will be performed to assess diagnostic performance.

Background Retzius-sparing robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (rsRARP) allows entire prostatectomy procedure via the pouch of Douglas. In low- and intermediate-risk prostate cancer (PCa) there is level 1 evidence that the Retzius-sparing approach impacts early continence recovery. Since specific data on aggressive and locally advanced cancer is lacking and avoiding rsRARP is presently suggested, we investigated urinary and sexual recovery, perioperative complications and early oncologic outcomes after rsRARP in this particular cohort. Methods Prospectively collected data of 50 consecutive men (median age 66 years) with high-risk PCa who underwent rsRARP in a single institution was analysed retrospectively. The follow-up for all patients was 12 months after surgery. Results 3 vs. 12 months after surgery, 82% vs. 98% of men used no pad or one safety pad and 50% vs. 72% used no pad. 89% of patients did not observe a decline of continence if postoperative radiotherapy was carried out. Considering the 17 preoperatively potent patients who underwent bi- or unilateral nerve-sparing surgery, 41% reported their first sexual intercourse within 1 year after rsRARP. 84% of patients had ≥pT3a disease and 42% positive surgical margins. A lymphadenectomy was done in 94% of patients with a median lymph node removal of 15 and lymph node metastasis in 13%. 34% underwent adjuvant radiotherapy and 22% adjuvant androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). 1-year recurrence-free survival was 96%, including 25% of patients on adjuvant or salvage ADT. Conclusions RsRARP in high-risk PCa is feasible and results in excellent continence rates, even after postoperative radiotherapy. The potency rates are promising but need further clarification in larger cohorts. Reliable oncologic outcomes require longterm follow-up and are awaited.